Protectors and knee guards

ABSTRACT

Our invention covers a protector and knee guard primarily intended to prevent or lessen the tendency of athletes to suffer knee injuries and for pre-and-post-operative protection, stabilization, and support in rehabilitation treatment; it comprises essentially an encasement with suitable protection for the knee, both front and side portions thereof and supporting oppositely disposed elastic members for the limbs above and below the knee with several modifications including but not limited to &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;SNAP-ON&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; pockets for the insertion of sponge rubber or other material for the protection of the knee.

United States Patent 1191 Bednarczuk et al.

[ 1 July 3,1973

[ PROTECTORS AND KNEE GUARDS [22] Filed: Oct. 15, 1971 [21] Appl. No.:189,617

[52] US. Cl 2/22, 2/24, 128/80 C [51] Int. Cl A4ld 13/06 [58] Field ofSearch 2/22, 24, 23, 16, 2/2, 62; 128/80 C, 80 F, 87, 88, 165

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 487,492 12/1892 Pugsley 2/22UX 1,862,203 6/1932 Glahe 2/24 2,195,024 3/1940 Bu1lock.... 2/24 X2,641,761 6/1953 Schultz 128/80 C 2,959,168 11/1960 Shook 2/22 X3,194,233 7/1965 Peckham 2/24 x 3,387,305 6/1968 Shafer 2/22 3,465,3659/1969 Jones t al. 2/24 Primary Examiner-James R. Bo ler AttorneyEdwardG. Roe

[5 7 ABSTRACT Our invention covers a protector-and knee guard primarilyintended to prevent or lessen the tendency of athletes to suffer kneeinjuries and for pre-and-postoperative protection, stabilization, andsupport in rehabili tation treatment; it comprises essentially anencasement with suitable protection for the knee, both front and sideportions thereof and supporting oppositely disposed elastic members forthe limbs above and below the knee with several modifications includingbut not limited to SNAP-ON pockets .for the insertion of sponge rubberor other material for the protection of the knee.

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INVENTORS DANIEL BEDNARCZUK ARNOLD II MILTON ATTORNEY PATENTEU JUL 3 ma3. 742.51 7

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INVENTOR. DANIEL BEDNARCZUK ARNOLD T. MILTON 4 ATTORNEY PROTECTORS ANDKNEE GUARDS persons for pre-and-post-operative protection,stabilization, and support in rehabilitation treatment. Other objectswill be manifest.

Said knee guard is so designed and constructed as to help preventinjuries, with a minimum or no restriction to movement of the athlete inwhatever sport in which he or she participates.

The manner in which maximum protection with the least movementrestriction is accomplished is fully explained in the followingdescription with reference to functional parts as shown in the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of our protector and guard.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of our invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation thereof.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section-taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section-taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of snap-on pocket modification.

FIG. 7 is a front elevation of the modified form of our invention.

FIG. 8 Horizontal section-taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 6

FIG. 9 Top plan of modified knee cage FIG. 10 Front elevation ofmodified knee cage 3 FIG. 11 Side elevation of modified knee cage FIG.12 Side elevation of inside of snapon pocket flap FIG. 13 Top plan ofpocket flap FIG. 14 side elevation of inside of pocket flap for secondmodification FIG. 15 exploded perspective of second modification FIG. 16fragmentary assembly view of upper and lower pivotal protective stripsFIG. 17 side elevation of FIG. 16

FIG. 18 fragmentary assembly view of upper and lower pivotal protectivestrips in approximate 65 knee bend position FIG. 19 front elevation ofsecond modification FIG. 20 side elevation with breakaway FIG. 21horizontal section taken on line 21-21 of FIG. 20

. FIG. 22 side elevation of invention in full knee bend position vReferring to the drawings, the guard unit 20 consists of the elasticsupport 22 which is made an integral part small, medium or large, ismade of spring or resilient material such as spring steel, rubber,formed leather, Teflon or other forms of plastic. The sides of the cage24 are formed with partial pockets 32,34, said pocketsopen at top andrear and receive two separate pieces 36 and 38 referred to as pivotalguard strips which are interchangeable. Each pivotal guard strip isshaped so that the lower and round portions 37,39 slip intoaforementioned pockets 32,34 and are spoon shaped and contoured to thesame contour as the pockets 32,34 and inner cage walls 26, 27. The upperportions of the pivotal guards are strips 28,29 extending from lowerrounded parts 37,39 which nestle in side packets 32,34 upward 5 or 6inches or more along each side .of the thigh portion of the leg andbelow top of elastic support, so that the wearer may fold top of elasticsupport downward over top of side strips, anchoring said pivotal strips28,29 in a manner in which they would respond to the movement of theleg, thus transmitting the motion to the cup-like parts 26,27 of thepivotal guards inside of their respective pockets. Above describedanchoring means is mentioned as just one way of accomplishing this.Other means such as pocket inserts, separate straps, etc. may be used.

Referring back to the structural details of the knee cage guard we referto the front and knee cap protective portion 25. Said portion isslightly extended forward of knee cap with enough clearance as at 33 forfull knee bend as shown in FIG. 4. Also adhered to the inside portion ofknee cap guard part 25 are split sponge rubber pads 23,23 for addedprotection. Cap guard portion 25 of cage 24 is provided with verticaland horizontal slits for more flexiblity.

The wearer of the knee protector has the options of removing the pivotalguards and utilizing the pocket space as a buffer against damaging blowsto the knee,

or inserting foam rubber pads into pockets 32,34 minimizing the force ofthe blow.

POCKET SNAP-ON MODIFICATION In FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 is shown the snap-onpocket modification 50, .wherein the cage 51 is structurally the sameexcepting for the pocket flaps 52,54 comprising the left and right sidesof cage 51, respectively. Flaps 52 and 54 each has a number of male orfemale snap parts of conventional snap fasteners.

For simplicity of description and clarification there are shown threefemale parts of fasteners 61, 62 and 63. The mating part, in this case,the male part of fasteners 61', 62', and 63 are depicted in FIGS. 8, 9,10

and 11.

Knee protector unit 50 consists of elastic support 22, with cut-out 21,and adhered to inside surface of walls 56,58 of cage 51 .and free of theknee cap protective part 55 and sponge rubber 53, as shown in FIG. 8.

Round portions 37,39 of pivotal guard strips 36 and 38 are inserted intopockets 64 and 66 which in this case are formed by snap-on flaps 52,54recessed as shown at 57, FIGS. 12 and 13, to receive round portion ofguard strips and contoured in cage walls 56,58. Upper portions 28, 29 ofthe pivotal guard strips extend upward along each side of the thighportion of the leg and elastic support anchored by any one of the meanspreviously described, thus transmitting the motion to the cup-like parts37,39 located in pockets '64, 66. Again there is the option of removingpivotal guards and utilizing the pocket space as a buffer or insertingfoam rubber pads.

It is now apparent that the snap-on pocket modification as illustratedand described accomplishes the desired protection of the knee andrelated area with a minimum restriction to movement without departingfrom the scope of the invention.

KNEE BRACE TYPE MODIFICATION In yet another modified form 100 as shownin FIGS. 15,16,17,l8,19,20 and 21 the desired protection of the knee andrelated areas is accomplished with a varied type of pivotal guard units70,80 and the use of modified snap-on pocket flaps 90,92, wherein snapfasteners 61,62 and 63 are located forward of flap recesses 91, 93,forming partial pockets open at the top, bottom, and rear as shown at 95in FIGS. 14 and 20.

Upper pivotal guard unit 70 consists of an elastic band 71, or could bea spring metal band to encircle the thigh of the leg L1.

Attached to each side of this band, herein referred to as an elasticband, are rigid spring members 72,74, made of metal or plastic,terminating as rings 73,75 wherein the Upper and forward sectors of thecircumference have larger thicknesses, as shown at 76 and 77.

In cooperation with upper pivotal guard unit 70 is lower pivotal guardunit 80, wherein a metal, plastic or elastic band 81, hereon referred toas elastic, are rigid spring members 82, 84 adhered or attached byconventional means to 81. The extremeties of 82, 84 terminate in rounddrum like members 83,85. Rings 73,75 and drums 83,85 are slightly spoonshaped to conform with the contours of sides 94,96 of cage 97. Drum likemembers 83,85 have a slightly smaller diameter than inside diameters ofrings 73,75 and a slightly larger thickness than sectors 76,77 of rings73,75. Said drum like members being inserted from inner sides of rings73,75 and units 70 and 80 being adjusted on thigh L, and below the kneeL so that drum and ring assemblies are located in center of the sides ofthe knee, best illustrated in FIG. 20. Assembled units 70 and 80 are puton over stocking or elastic support. Knee cage 97 is then slipped overthe knee and under ring and drum assemblies. Cage 97 may be slipped onwith or without flaps 90,92, flaps 90,92 and recesses 91,93 formingpockets for pivotal ring and drum assemblies.

Motion of L, or L is transmitted by rigid members 72,74,82 and 84 topivotal ring and drum members 73,75 and 83, 85 respectively. Widersectors 76,77 of rings 73,75 bearing on outside and uppercircumferential surfaces of drums 83 and 85 supply stabilizingbrace-like added support.

Cage 95 is designed and structurally similar to the previously describedknee cages, affords the protection of the knee from injury inpre-and-post-operative rehabilitation treatments.

Strips 72,74,82 and 84 afford support and protection of areas above andbelow the knee. By no means is this modification limited torehabilitation patients, as illustrated in FIGS. 16,17 and 18, thepivotal means are not restrictive and could be used in the world ofsports. Al-

though by structure and design the modified forms vary, FIG. 22 isillustrative of all forms of the invention in a full knee bend position.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those madeapparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained, andsince certain changes may be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

What is claimed is:

l. A knee protector and guard comprising: a cage made of semi-rigidmaterial for wearing on the knee joint, said cage including a frontportion positioned over the knee cap and two side portions, each securedto the front portion and extending around the sides of the knee joint,said front portion formed with slots cut in its face to increaseflexibility; and a woven elastic covering which surrounds the leg aboveand below the knee joint, said covering including an intermediatejoining member secured to the cage for holding the cage at the jointposition.

2. A protector and guard as claimed in claim 1 wherein pads of spongematerial are positioned between the side portions and the elasticcovering 3. A protector and guard as claimed in claim 1 wherein eachside portion is formed of two layers of semi-rigid material and a layerof sponge material is positioned between said layers.

4. A protector and guard as claimed in claim 1 wherein said slots in thefront portion are in the form of a cross, thereby producing fourflexible slabs, each an integral part of the cage adjacent to the edgeof the front portion.

5. A protector and guard as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sideportions include additional hinged flaps and snap-on fasteners forholding pads of resilient material.

6. A protector and guard as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elasticcovering includes a cutout portion opposite the knee to facilitatebending the joint.

7. A protector and guard as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elasticcovering includes an upper cylindrical portion for surrounding the upperlimb, a lower cylindrical portion for surrounding the lower limb and twoside strips of flexible material joining the two coverings, each of saidstrips including a pivotal hinge whose axis of movement is aligned withthe axis of the knee joint.

8. A protector and guard as claimed in claim 7 wherein each of saidpivotal hinges includes a flat circular disk and a ring which fits overthe disk, said hinges positioned contiguous with the side portions ofthe cage and knee.

9. A protector and guard as claimed in claim 8 wherein said ringsinclude wider sectors on the upper ring surfaces for increasing thestabilizing support of the circular discs.

II t I i It

1. A knee protector and guard comprising: a cage made of semirigidmaterial for wearing on the knee joint, said cage including a frontportion positioned over the knee cap and two side portions, each securedto the front portion and extending around the sides of the knee joint,said front portion formed with slots cut in its face to increaseflexibility; and a woven elastic covering which surrounds the leg aboveand below the knee joint, said covering including an intermediatejoining member secured to the cage for holding the cage at the jointposition.
 2. A protector and guard as claimed in claim 1 wherein pads ofsponge maTerial are positioned between the side portions and the elasticcovering.
 3. A protector and guard as claimed in claim 1 wherein eachside portion is formed of two layers of semi-rigid material and a layerof sponge material is positioned between said layers.
 4. A protector andguard as claimed in claim 1 wherein said slots in the front portion arein the form of a cross, thereby producing four flexible slabs, each anintegral part of the cage adjacent to the edge of the front portion. 5.A protector and guard as claimed in claim 1 wherein said side portionsinclude additional hinged flaps and snap-on fasteners for holding padsof resilient material.
 6. A protector and guard as claimed in claim 1wherein said elastic covering includes a cut out portion opposite theknee to facilitate bending the joint.
 7. A protector and guard asclaimed in claim 1 wherein said elastic covering includes an uppercylindrical portion for surrounding the upper limb, a lower cylindricalportion for surrounding the lower limb and two side strips of flexiblematerial joining the two coverings, each of said strips including apivotal hinge whose axis of movement is aligned with the axis of theknee joint.
 8. A protector and guard as claimed in claim 7 wherein eachof said pivotal hinges includes a flat circular disk and a ring whichfits over the disk, said hinges positioned contiguous with the sideportions of the cage and knee.
 9. A protector and guard as claimed inclaim 8 wherein said rings include wider sectors on the upper ringsurfaces for increasing the stabilizing support of the circular discs.